shoes

Now i knew begore i came to japan that shoes were a no no in the house, that inside the front door you look them off before walking around the house. that idea was fine by me, i knew of many people back in NZ that had the same rule...but they didnt produce a pair of slippers for you to wear!...i dont actually wear the slippers around the house, unless i go to the bathroom, which has its own slippers just inside the door -then i must put them on, having rather big feet[not just compared to the japanese] i find them rather uncomfortable, its even worse if its hot, and im not wearing any socks -they cant be frustratingly sweaty.

Tofu

I used to hate Tofu when my brothers dad used to make it[he would fry it]. But I have come to love Tofu -especially in Miso soup[which is a breakfast meal in Japan].
Here is something I didnt know[till now] about Tofu: it has the best source of vegitable preotein and full of vitamins and minerals-I knew it was healthy, but these Japanese foods are so mysterious.

Shimanami Bridge with my host family

yesterday morning i brought up the fact Akiko had aggreed to cycle the biggest bridge on the Shimanami cycle road...its 5 kilometres. so we all set out, including Yuji, to cycle from the Imabari side over the 5K bridge to the first island. The day wasnt looking too promising at first, very misty[actually it satyed like that untill we got back to Imabari -which was when i got sun burnt]. We all hired a bike each, Risa had a little one with trainer wheels. but only 2 minutes up the road Yuji took his back because it was obvious Risa would need help on the climb onto the bridge, and her speed was not exactly the same as the rest of us. It was actually a really good ride, Akiko told me[out of ear shot of Risa] that maybe we could come back without her sometime, and even cycle the some of the islands. The three of us took turns walking with Risa, while the other two cycled of and back again and swapping. but remarkably Risa cycled the whole thing by her self. we got off the bridge on the first island and made our way to a resteraunt to have lunch -udon[not sure of spelling]. Akiko and Yuji desided it was too far[for Risa] to go back across the bridge, so we left the bikes and caught a ferry back to Imabari. It only took 20 minutes. and the sky became much clearer, and the sun finally came out as we docked at the port. because we had left the car at the begining of the bridge we had to walk back to the house, which was fine by me[though it was becoming hotter by the moment], but Yuji called a cab, Risa was too exhausted.

an update on my life

The other day I crossed out six weeks in my journal, im finally at the half way mark. and luckily for me its been mostly a possitive experience. true ive had my ups and downs with the job. but im happy to say that yesterday [sunday -the longest working day during the week for me! which was about 10 hours] was one of the best so far. we spent the day doing crafts, and we even made `pois`[used in traditional Maori song and dance]. travelling overseas i feel compelled to share parts of my country and culture with the people i meet, but it can also be diffilcult to explaine to them the significance it holds for me. although my working week is kind of lonely, i seem to manage to do something at least once a week that is fun or memorable -like climbing mt. Ishizuchi, cycling the Shimanami bridge road, visiting Kyushu, Matsuyama, and meeting all the people -who have made my time in Japan so memorable, and most importantly a reason for coming back to visit. now its too early to say sayonara just yet, i still have another six weeks to go, i need to wait alittle before i can get all sentimental.
Dew Mata...

really i need to learn how to make links!

WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
The books I will someday writeBy THOMAS DILLON

Books play a large part in the life of any foreign resident of Japan. For no matter how pervasive online linkage to the homeland becomes, books have always been, and always will be, a main conduit to the language and culture left behind, especially when socked into riding the trains for hours on end.
Topics on Japan are especially popular, but I often find this genre somewhat lacking. As a person who dabbles in the babble of the literary world, I sometimes muse on the "life in Japan" books that I feel convinced would become best sellers if only I could find the time enough to write them . . . and a publisher drunk enough to fund me.
Here then is a list of titles that with a bit of luck might one day be weighing down your bookshelf. While some may seem a tad scanty on content, in many cases the titles alone speak volumes.
From A to Z . . .
* "Audrey Hepburn's Navel" (If Alan Brown can make a bundle writing about Hepburn's neck, then I can likely double that by focusing on her navel, or elsewhere. Be honest, now. Which book would you rather read?)
* "Breaking the Mobile Phone Habit" (with Chapter One focusing on breaking the damn phone)
* "The Chrysanthemum, the Sword and the Love Hotel"
* "Games to Play With All Those Business Cards"
* "God, the Most Important Job Interview of Your Life and the Meaning of Why the Chuo Line Stalled"
* "How to Japan" (including chapters on everyday matters such as what to do with the noodle in your lap, exactly when to stop bowing, and how to laugh "with" the gentleman who is laughing "at" you . . . until you can step close enough to kick him)
* "How to Pick the Right Train -- Before You Get On" (This might be a board game as well, perhaps with darts.)
* "How to Pretend You Love the Dish You Pretended You Knew the Directions For"
* "Hunting for Underwear in the Forest" (subtitled "The Fateful Difference Between 'Shitagi' and 'Shiitake,' and Similar Pratfalls in Japanese Language." Alternative title: "Hanging Your Mushrooms out to Dry")
* "Impromptu Japanese Design" (subtitled "Ways to Use Your Stamp on Clerks Who Won't Take Your Signature")
* " 'I See Cindy Sitting on the Seat!' and Other Party Drills for Japanese English Learners"
* "Is Hello Kitty Satan?" (including chapters on the correlation between cats and evil, the clever camouflaging of the word "hell" in Kitty's name and "Whatever you do! Don't stare into those eyes!" plus other survival hints)
* "Japanese for Dizzy People" (Far more practical, I believe, than the "busy" AJALT textbook of similar title.)
* "The Japanese Restaurateur's Foolproof Guide to Preventing Secondhand Smoke Inhalation" (excerpt: "And next, to be really, really effective, place a tiny placard between seats, designating one as nonsmoking and the other as smoking.")
* "Japanese Toilets for Ph.D.s" (The dummy market gets competition.)
* "Karate, Sumo, Judo and Other Martial Arts Useful in Japanese Roach Control"
* "Living Each Day on a Japanese Diet . . . But Pigging out on Pizza at Night"
* "Magical Experiences With the Japanese Cost of Living" (subtitled "Making Money Disappear")
* "Making Your Japanese Dreams Come True!" (Like the dream where you're on the train and wearing nothing but your house slippers. This simple primer can help you realize that.)
* "Murphy's Law: The Japanese Corollaries" (including comments on which way the yen/dollar rate will zoom on the day you exchange money, why the yummiest-looking bread in the bakery is bound to be pumped with bean paste, and how you will probably mispronounce the word "shoe" when you mention your itchy footwear during that big presentation)
* "Predicting the Big One: A Year's Study of the Mysterious Canine Habits That Could Save Your Life!" (excerpt: "Jan. 1st. Today Pochi ate, rolled over and slept. Jan. 2nd. Today Pochi ate, rolled over and slept. Jan. 3rd. Today Pochi ate, rolled over and slept. Jan. 4th. Today Pochi . . .")
* "Ranger Tom's Guide to Dealing With Increased Bears in the Japanese Wilderness" (to include chapters on playing dead, screaming out of control, and running like a sonovabitch)
* "Reversing the Decline in Japanese Population" (with chapters focusing on immigration, adoption, cloning and reanimation of the dead)
* "Unfolding Paper Cranes -- Step by Step"
* "What If We Had Sailor Suits Too? -- An Examination of English Teachers and Their Fears"
* "When and When Not to Fill the Other Guy's Glass" (excerpt: "Tanaka lay flat on the floor like a tuna begging for the swift mercy of the meat cleaver. I sloshed through his vomit and lifted his head from the tatami by his necktie. His eyes rolled white. His tongue trailed along the floor like a pink ribbon. 'C'mon now, buddy,' I belched. 'You gotta have one more round for the road!' ")
* "Who Says the Japanese Aren't Creative?" (subtitled "The Various Ways the Emperor Could Wave His Hand If He Wanted To")
* "Why Mickey Mouse Makes Japanese Friends and George Bush Doesn't -- Could It Be the Voice? (Without giving away too much content, my premise here would be that there might be an easy way for the president to increase his support among the Japanese people.)
* "Willing People to Get Off Your Train -- And What Else You Might Do If You Had Telepathy"
* "Zen and the Art of Commuter Wicket Maintenance"
Alas, the only one above that will probably ever be finished is the one on hunting underwear, which I have already written under another title, "Japanese Made Funny" (The East Publications, 2001). The publisher was helpful, not drunk -- though he may have hit the bottle after seeing the sales.
Ah, there's the rub. Writing is fun, but marketing . . . it's always a pain in the shoe.

I know my posts are boring...heres another one

Scientists oppose Japanese plans to kill more whales

Professor Scott Baker, seen with a catalogue of humpback whale flukes, opposes Japanese plans to kill more whales. File picture / Amos Chapple

26.05.05 4.00pm

New Zealand scientists are joining an international clamour of condemnation against Japanese plans to kill more whales in the name of science. Japan has asked the International Whaling Commission to approve plans to extend its Antarctic whaling programme in the Ross Sea to kill 80 each of humpback and fin whales and increase the number of minke whales killed from 440 to 850. The move has met with strong opposition from the Australian and New Zealand governments. Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Science Scott Baker, who will be attending the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee meeting in Korea in June, said today Japan would have a fight on its hands. "Humpback whales throughout much of the South Pacific have shown little sign of recovery to their former abundance, despite claims to the contrary by some Japanese scientists," he said. "Nearly 200,000 humpback whales and more than 700,000 fin whales were killed in the southern hemisphere during the 20th century reducing both populations to near extinction. "Now, it seems Japan plans to resume hunting of both species." Phil Clapham, from the United States National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, said Japan's scientific whaling programme had been widely criticised as a cover for a growing commercial hunt. "The quality of the scientific research is extremely poor despite 16 years of operation and thousands of whales killed. "Japan's research exists for one purpose only -- to 'prove' -- no matter what the data actually say, that whales eat too much fish and are thus in competition with Japanese fisheries. "This isn't the case and is not even relevant in the Antarctic, where whales eat krill," Dr Clapham said.

article from intrepid

"What is it with Asian countries and their love for Karaoke? In thesmallest of towns, out in the main street or hidden away in a dark alley,you are bound to find at least one Karaoke bar. Whether you are inThailand, Vietnam or the home of the singing craze, Japan, you need not gowithout your fix to show the world, or just your nearest and dearest, thatyou have what it takes. Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam has its own open air stage overlooking thewater where you can show the locals how to do it western style. With itsliteral translation meaning "empty orchestra" in Japanese, Karaoke hastaken the world by storm. In Japan, you can quite often find business menenjoying a liquid lunch and a sing-a-long at any of the thousands ofKaraoke bars all over the country, or a bunch of kids on the way home fromschool showing their prowess at learning the words to the latest rap hit. There it would almost rank as a national pastime, second to baseball ofcourse. Unlike Karaoke in Australia, where it is often only offered at the localpub on a specified night, Karaoke bars in Asia are private rooms or boothswhere you can sit on your own to practice or entertain a handful offriends, while a waiter will bring your drink orders. Especially in Japan,a night out for a few rousing renditions of the Beatles greatest hits, canbe quite a costly experience with the bar prices and the room rented by thehour. Some of the more sophisticated places have machines that will score youreffort at hitting the right notes and the right tempo. Of course you don'thave to remember the words, as they are on a video monitor in front you,usually with a cheesy love montage like a couple walking hand in hand onthe beach or frolicking in the daisies. If you are really brave then youcan always attempt a local pop hit, but it's all in good fun and let's faceit - who doesn't like to imagine themselves on stage in front of adoringfans as you belt out Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline'!"I don't think my rendition of "Eye of the Tiger" would have rated highly onthe karaoke score machine - but Intrepid leader Stacey Shine and I had alot of fun doing it and I guess that what it's all about. It's also aboutdoing as the locals do and meeting some fabulous people along the way. Japan is an intriguing land of contradictions and cultural traditions. It's a challenge to blend in and at the same time an absolute privilege toimmediately be absorbed into the ways of this ancient land. * Turning Japanese - Intrepid style!

Dog Fight Anyone?

Dog fighting is a popular sport in parts of Japan -so says my guide book. Among aficonados, top daogs and their owners can achieve the same status as star sumo wrestlers. Winning dogs are even paraded are the ring in miniture sumo style aprons.
Fights take place on a caged circular stage, surrounded by tiers of seats.
The dogs, which unexpectantly do not bark, weigh in at around 150Kg; they jockey for a grip on the others shoulders and then try and throw the other dog down. the fight ends when one dog stays down.
A judge punishes illegal moves such as nose or testical-biting by spraying the offender with stinging liquid.

Christchurch man auctions 'comfort hug'

By KERI WELHAMA.
29-year-old "supportive and caring male" from Christchurch,New Zealand is auctioning a non-sexual, human-to-human, 60-second or less Comfort Hug on internet trading site TradeMe.
"Whether you are having a bad day or need a little affection, this professionally delivered hug will help you get through your day," the trader's sales pitch reads.
So far, the comforts of this stranger's bosom have failed to attract the reserve price of $2.
Two bids have been placed in three days – the highest, $1.50.
The Christchurch hug-trader is listed online as Midsta. He did not return requests to make contact with The Press yesterday.
However, online details show Hamish, as he is known to his friends, is a TradeMe veteran of one year who has sold a motorcycle, a balloon ride and a fridge-freezer, and bought two Oroton handbags.
He includes in his online blurb a reference to the support of his partner in his hug-giving endeavour, saying she understands the powerful healing qualities of one of his hugs.
Midsta says he is more "Andrew Mehrtens hot than Carlos Spencer hot", but stresses he is trading a non-sexual hug.
Midsta will hug men or women. Anyone outside Christchurch will provide return flights.
A potential buyer, dubbed Bellalicious, said she was interested in bidding, but first wanted to know if Midsta had a mental history.
He said he did not.
Midsta says the hug is non-transferable, and the recipient must be genuine: "No covering themselves with Marmite, jelly, etc."